From March 27 to March 30, sponsored by APGN and the People’s Government of Chizhou City, and undertaken by National Geoparks Network Center and Jiuhuashan Geopark Administrative Committee, the International Workshop on Integration of Geo-landscape and Local Culture was held in Jiuhuashan. More than 50 representatives from the Ministry of Land and Resources, UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, APGN advisory committee, the UNESCO office in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, National Geoparks Network Center and Anhui Province attended the meeting. Geopark representatives from Tianzhushan, Huangshan, Lushan and Longhushan also attended the workshop.

Mr. He Qingcheng, vice-president of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and executive director of the National Geoparks Network Center, hosted the meeting. Focusing on the theme “Integration of Geo-landscape and Local Culture”, participants collectively shared practical experience, explored future new developments and engaged in in-depth exchanges on the integration of Jiuhuashan geo-landscape and local culture.

Tianzhushan and Jiuhuashan are sister-geoparks and both are located in the south part of Anhui Province, only 170km away from each other. Both geoparks are magnificent with different characteristics of granite landscape. Since Tianzhushan and Jiuhuashan established sister-geoparks, both have held colorful cooperation activities on geo-heritage protection, scientific research, science popularization and geo-tourism. This workshop was not only a symposium, but also a favorable platform for sister geoparks to engage in communication. This meeting was a huge success.